Thursday, October 02, 2008

Mountain Peace

I greatly appreciated all of the well wishes, advice, and prayers concerning my allergies. Yesterday I went to town to run some errands. Although I was feeling lousy, there were certain things needed from Wal-Mart. Even then, I started to call Toby and say that I was not coming to town and get him to make the Wal-Mart run, but I decided that I would stop at the pharmacy and quiz the druggist on what would help my allergies. I felt so lousy that I considered going to the doctor, and I rarely go to a doctor. I met Toby and Jesse at the park for lunch. Rather than walk with him (exercise) I decided to save my energy for WM and left him with Jesse. At WM, I broke out into a sweat. I guess I had been running a low-grade fever. When I got home, I managed to take a good nap and felt much better when I awoke. Although I felt better, Toby suggested that I not go to sign class or church. He was right, I started feeling lousy again and ran another low fever. Jesse came home from work and said that she did not feel good either and went to bed. Hmm, this may be more than just allergies. After taking some new drugs (Claritin D) last night, I slept fairly well and woke up feeling much better. I don’t know about art today. Right now, I feel pretty good. If this is an allergy, then I want to have art. If this is some sort of sickness, I do not want to spread it. I guess we will just wait and see.

There was a comment form Eric S, Small Town Mountain Boy, yesterday. I had been by his blog before, but I revisited it yesterday. He wrote about losing his muse (writing) and not being in the beautiful mountains of CO to find it. It reminded me of how the mountains can bring such a peaceful easy feeling into your life. I have known a lot of people who go to the mountains looking for that peace – maybe looking for God. I have lain in a meadow of dandelions surrounded by mountains and blue sky. I have listened to the wind whispering in the trees. I have stood on the tallest mountain and looked down into the valleys and out over the miles of scenery and felt the awe. I have watched a storm blow in and seen the lightning strike across the valley. I have smelled the seasons change. I have sat still while my mom worked the sap and pine needles from my hair and scrubbed the black dirt out from under my fingernails. I have known the beauty and peace of the mountains. I know the peace of God, and that peace is everywhere – not just in the mountains. You can look for the peace of God in earthly places and not find it. It is in the heavenlies. It is in your heart.
This is a print from the James Field Gallery. I bought this print before Toby and I married as my wedding gift to him. The actual painting is from floor to ceiling.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

After living in the "mountains" for MANY years I think I have the authority to speak on this issue. The pleasure that comes from actually being in the mountains is something that is so special I can't really put it into words. The smells, the wind, the sounds. What I did witness in my 18 or so years of living there were many people coming to live in an area of beauty hoping that the beauty alone could heal their hearts/lives. Here is an interesting FACT...one evening while having a nice drink with fellow Red River residents we began making a list of divorces in the small town of Red. The rules were that the four of us ("us" meaning us that were sitting around having the drink) had to actually know the couples involved. We came up with around 130 COUPLES. Now that has been a few years ago. I'm sure the number is greater now. So, my advise is don't be taken in by outward beauty. Your beauty and peace comes from only one true source.

Buck said...

Sorry about your allergies, Lou. I missed your post yesterday, what with me coming by before you posted...

At any rate: I hope you're better today.

Well said about the mountains, and I recognize the beauty in the things you mentioned. But... that said, I'm not partial to any particular landscape or setting... be it mountains, desert, plains, forests, beaches, etc. One place is pretty much the same as the next to me, with the possible exception of "the city," with which I have a MOST pronounced love/hate relationship.

Becky G said...

Allergies don't cause fever. I second what Toby has said. Cancel art, stay in bed, warm chicken soup. Prayers that you feel better.

Boy, I'm bossy today, aren't I?

Knit and fall back in it said...

I hope you're feeling better today. There seems to be a lot of people around here with strep, so maybe a trip to the doctor wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I've never spent much time in the mountains, but I can usually find that peace wherever I am when I really need it.

Bag Blog said...

Anny, people can read that 130 (or more) couples have divorced in RR over a period of years, but it doesn't really sink in until you Consider the population of RR is only about 300 people. Then your statistic becomes more amazing.

Buck, anyone who purposefully chooses to live in Portales can't be too picky :)

Becky, Jesse and I took your advice and stayed home yesterday. We made stew.

Knit, I don't think it is strep, but it is more than just a cold. We will see how it plays out - if it turns nasty, I will see a doctor.

MezzoCO said...

...sigh...the mountains. Yes, for me the mountains - especially the Rockies - are special. When I'm up there, I feel as if the clear mountain air pierces through to the deepest reaches of my soul.